Voice-based phone alert signal

• US 6,907,277 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mobigence Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mobigence Incorporated
• Inventors: Shim, Jae H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US09/844,757
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 455/567, 455/563, 455/415, 455/414, 455/413, 455/467, 455/417, 379/68, 379/76, 379/88.21
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/044 according to the level of ambient noise

Abstract

Method and system for providing a notification of an incoming call on a radiotelephone. When a signal indicating receipt of an incoming call is sensed, the radiotelephone provides a voice-based incoming call notification signal, using words spoken by a selected user or synthesized by a voice synthesizer to provide and alert (DA) signal that distinguishable from most or all other incoming call notification signals provided by other radiotelephones that may be nearby. The sound intensity level for the notification signal can be varied according to (i) background sound level present, (ii) estimated distance from the radiotelephone to a user and/or (iii) time delay by the user in responding to the incoming call. The notification signal can be personalized by reference to a source of the incoming call, using an on-board database.

Claims

1. A method for indicating receipt of an incoming call on a radiotelephone, the method comprising:

receiving a signal indicating an incoming call on a radiotelephone;

providing a selected voice-based distinguishable alert signal, having a first associated sound intensity value and including at least three audibly perceptible, voice-based words;

estimating a value of a background sound level that is present at the radiotelephone at a time the incoming call signal is received;

when the background sound level value is less than a selected threshold background sound value, providing the incoming call notification signal at the first sound intensity value; and

when the background sound level value is at least equal to the threshold background sound value, providing the incoming call notification signal at a second sound intensity value that is larger than the first sound intensity value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if said incoming call has an associated source phone number; and

when said incoming call has an associated phone number, providing said incoming call notification signal with at least one audibly perceptible, voice-based word that identifies at least one source of said incoming call.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if said incoming call has an associated source phone number;

when said incoming call has an associated phone number, determining if the source phone number is contained in a database associated with said radiotelephone; and

when the source phone number is contained in the database, providing said incoming call notification signal with at least one audibly perceptible, voice-based word that identifies at least one source of said incoming call.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

when said source phone number is not contained in said database, providing a database modification means to allow information concerning said source phone number to be added to said database.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing said voice-based signal using at least one of:

a voice of a user of said radiotelephone, a voice of a person other than a user of said radiotelephone, and a synthesized voice sound.

6. A system for indicating receipt of an incoming call on a radiotelephone, the system comprising:

a radiotelephone that is capable of receiving a signal indicating an incoming call on the radiotelephone; and

an incoming call mechanism that;

provides a selected voice-based distinguishable alert signal, having a first associated sound intensity value and including at least three audibly perceptible, voice-based words;

estimates a value of a background sound level that is present at the radiotelephone at a time the incoming call signal is received;

when the background sound level value is less than a selected threshold background sound value, provides the incoming call notification signal at the first sound intensity value; and

when the background sound level value is at least equal to the threshold background sound value, provides the incoming call notification signal at a second sound intensity value that is larger than the first sound intensity value.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said incoming call mechanism:

determines if said incoming call has an associated source phone number; and

when said incoming call has an associated phone number, provides said incoming call notification signal with at least one audibly perceptible, voice-based word that identifies at least one source of said incoming call.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said incoming call mechanism:

determines if said incoming call has an associated source phone number;

when said incoming call has an associated phone number, determines if the source phone number is contained in a database associated with said radiotelephone; and

when the source phone number is contained in the database, provides said incoming call notification signal with at least one audibly perceptible, voice-based word that identifies at least one source of said incoming call.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

when said source phone number is not contained in said database, said incoming call mechanism provides a database modification means to allow information concerning said source phone number to be added to said database.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said incoming call mechanism provides said voice-based signal using at least one of:

a voice of a user of said

radiotelephone, a voice of a person other than a user of said radiotelephone, and a synthesized voice sound.

11. A method for indicating receipt of an incoming call on a radiotelephone, the method comprising:

receiving a signal indicating an incoming call on a radiotelephone;

providing a selected voice-based distinguishable alert signal, having an associated sound intensity value and including at least three audibly perceptible, voice-based words;

determining an accumulated time after the incoming call notification signal is first provided, during which a user of the radiotelephone does not respond to the notification signal; and

when the accumulated time exceeds a selected time value, providing a second incoming call notification signal having a sound intensity value that is greater than the first sound intensity value.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining if said incoming call has an associated source phone number; and

when said incoming call has an associated phone number, providing said incoming call notification signal with at least one audibly perceptible, voice-based word that identifies at least one source of said incoming call.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining if said incoming call has an associated source phone number;

when said incoming call has an associated phone number, determining if the source phone number is contained in a database associated with said radiotelephone; and

when the source phone number is contained in the database, providing said incoming call notification signal with at least one audibly perceptible, voice-based word that identifies at least one source of said incoming call.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

when said source phone number is not contained in said database, providing a database modification means to allow information concerning said source phone number to be added to said database.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing said voice-based signal using at least one of:

a voice of a user of said radiotelephone, a voice of a person other than a user of said radiotelephone, and a synthesized voice sound.

16. A system for indicating receipt of an incoming call on a radiotelephone, the system comprising:

a radiotelephone that is capable of receiving a signal indicating an incoming call on the radiotelephone; and

an incoming call mechanism that;

provides a selected voice-based distinguishable alert signal, having an associated sound intensity value and including at least three audibly perceptible, voice-based words;

determines an accumulated time after the incoming call notification signal is first provided, during which a user of the radiotelephone does not respond to the notification signal; and

when the accumulated time exceeds a selected time value, provides a second incoming call notification signal having a sound intensity value that is greater than the first sound intensity value.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said incoming call mechanism:

determines if said incoming call has an associated source phone number; and

when said incoming call has an associated phone number, provides said incoming call notification signal with at least one audibly perceptible, voice-based word that identifies at least one source of said incoming call.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said incoming call mechanism:

determines if said incoming call has an associated source phone number;

when said incoming call has an associated phone number, determines if the source phone number is contained in a database associated with said radiotelephone; and

when the source phone number is contained in the database, provides said incoming call notification signal with at least one audibly perceptible, voice-based word that identifies at least one source of said incoming call.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

when said source phone number is not contained in said database, said incoming call mechanism provides a database modification means to allow information concerning said source phone number to be added to said database.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said incoming call mechanism provides said voice-based signal using at least one of:

a voice of a user of said

radiotelephone, a voice of a person other than a user of said radiotelephone, and a synthesized voice sound.